Halloween Fall Road Trip Playlist
Christmas music gets all the hype, but what about Halloween? There are plenty of songs out there that evoke the Spooky Season spirit, and I’m not talking about Monster Mash. If you’ve got a Halloween-themed road trip planned this autumn (Salem anyone?), this is the perfect playlist to accompany you on the ride.
This is the perfect Halloween playlist for your October road trip.
Catch the entire Spooky Season Road Trip playlist at the bottom of this article. You can also follow it on Spotify to have it saved to your Playlist Library for easy access. Be sure to check out The Awayist on Spotify for more travel-themed playlists as well.
Halloween Playlist
The Vibe
Indie, Halloween, Rock, Indie Pop
Notable Artists
Dead Man’s Bones • Billie Eilish • Eels • Modest Mouse • Screamin’ Jay Hawkins • Fleetwood Mac • Danny Elfman • Lana Del Ray • Tegan and Sara
Start Planning Your Spooky Trip
Featured Artists
While the majority of the songs on this playlist are one-offs, there are a few artists who make a reoccurring appearance. Whether intentional or not, these artists really get into the Spooky Season spirit.
Dead Man’s Bones
Nope, your ears aren’t playing tricks on you. That really is Ryan Gosling you hear! Using the alias “Baby Goose” (get it? Gosling…Baby Goose), everyone’s favorite Hollywood darling teamed up with his friend, Zach Shields, to write songs inspired by their mutual love for all things spooky. It’s a Halloween-lovers dream, and you’ll catch several of their songs gracing this Spooky Season playlist.
Billie Eilish
I mean…are you surprised? “Bury a Friend” is iconically creepy, but Billie Eilish has a number of tracks that are perfect for a Halloween playlist. “COPYCAT” from one of her earlier EPs has a similar feel to “Bury a Friend”, and “Bellyache” tells the spine-chilling tale of a girl who finds herself with bodies in the trunk of her car. Why? Listen and find out.
Modest Mouse
Arguably the best record ever released by the band, Good News for People Who Love Bad News, is also full of great Halloween songs. One look at the track list, and you’ll see why. “Satin in a Coffin” is a favorite, and “This Devil’s Workday” (sung from the perspective of the devil himself) is definitely on the spooky side.
Standout Songs
In addition to the songs mentioned above, there are a few other tracks worth calling out. These really round out the playlist and capture the Spooky Season vibe for Halloween.
Season of the Witch – Lana Del Rey
This has quickly become a Halloween season favorite. Lana Del Rey does the witchy vibe flawlessly, and no Halloween playlist is complete without her rendition of “Season of the Witch”.
I Put A Spell on You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
This is perhaps the OG of spooky songs and was cemented in Halloween history by the Sanderson Sisters in Hocus Pocus. There have been countless covers of this song over the years, but we’ll stick to the original for this Halloween playlist.
Vampire – John & Jehn
I dare you to listen to this song without starting to boogie (or at least tapping your foot). You can’t. It’s catchy in the best way, which makes it perfect for a Halloween road trip playlist, and the lyrics are fully emblematic of Spooky Season.
Fresh Blood – Eels
This song is just cool. If this chorus doesn’t amp you up for Halloween, I don’t know what will.
I’m Gonna Haunt You – Fabienne DelSol
This modern Indie Pop tune has a bit of an early-60s vibe, which I really appreciate. It’s another one with a great groove and spooky lyrics, making it a perfect addition to a Halloween road trip playlist.
This is Halloween – Danny Elfman
It’s not Halloween without classics like the Nightmare Before Christmas. Year after year, it never gets old. I’m convinced this early-90s song will endure for all eternity. (And, in case you’re wondering, I’m fully in the camp that this is a Halloween movie – not a Christmas movie.)
While the bones of the playlist will always stay the same, I’m consistently searching for new songs to add to the mix. Have anything you would add to this playlist? Let me know in the comments below. I’d love to check them out!